Category: France

La Cuisine Paris

On By ChérineIn Cooking, France, Paris, TravelLeave a comment

On a cold February morning, I walked along the quays of the Seine to Marché Maubert to meet my class mates and the chef from La Cuisine Paris.

I had planned a mini vacation in Paris and was looking forward to taking a cooking class to enhance my culinary arts skills. I found La Cuisine Paris on Instagram. Located at 80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville in the 4th arrondissement, the school offers culinary and baking classes in English.

The Marché Maubert is comprised of 45 stalls offering fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry (did you know that in France, rabbit is considered poultry?), fish, cheeses and many more.

Our group walked around the market, led by Chef Justin, looking at the various offerings and planning our menu.

We settled on seasonal ingredients: radishes, “potimarron” (a cross between a pumpkin and a squash), rabbit and for dessert an almond tart. And of course some cheese and bread to start out french culinary experience. On the way back to the school, we stopped for baguettes at a “boulangerie” who had been awarded the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, a prestigious honour for the best craftsman in various categories.

Back in the kitchen, we set to searing the rabbit before braising it in a mustard sauce.        I had never thought to glaze radishes, but we did and they were sweet and still had bite. The potimarron was puréed with cream and butter. The delectable aroma of the baking almond tarts filled the kitchen. I could not wait to savour what was to come.

As we sat down to lunch with a view on the Seine, the sun came out.

La Cuisine Paris is a must for the home or amateur chef who is looking to delve into french cuisine classics. Check them out if you are in Paris next.

La Cuisine Paris     80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris, France.

 

Le Coq Rico, my new Paris favourite

On By ChérineIn France, Paris, Restaurants, TravelLeave a comment

Almost 5 months have passed since I was in Paris last, yet I remember my Sunday lunch with friends at Le Coq Rico in Montmartre with relish.

Le Coq Rico is Antoine Westermann’s brainchild. One look at the menu, if the name has not already given it away, and you realize that the principal player is poultry.

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We delved in and chose 3 starters that would allow us to taste a little bit of everything;

The “Eggz”, a soft boiled egg in a crispy nest. Soft boiled eggs, being my least favourite food item, I stayed away from tasting the dish. My friend though, devoured it. I suspect that it was quite enjoyable based on the smile on his lips.

The buttery duck livers covered in sesame seeds were well balanced by the sourness of the sautéed cherries.

The duck rillettes (a sort of pâté made with shredded duck) served with toasted baguette and pickles were by far my favourite. I could have had seconds.

 

For our main, we selected the whole duck, served with a choice of accompaniments: salad, the ever popular french fries or vegetables fricassée. In an attempt to make healthy,  nutritious choices, we balanced our french fry order with vegetables and salad.

 

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A truly succulent meal with absolutely no regrets.

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And if there are any doubts that we savoured each piece of confit or roasted duck, there should be none. We practically licked the plate clean.

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Le Coq Rico  –  98 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris  –  http://en.lecoqrico.com/index

 

The need to escape

On By ChérineIn France, Paris, Travel2 Comments

In the last week or so, I have not been able to shake this feeling of sadness that has taken a hold of me.  When things start getting to me, whether it be work, home or the world, I usually book an escape. Run away for a few days to clear my head and to remind me of all the good things that life has to offer.

Paris is most often my first choice to restore my serenity. Unfortunately, that is not in the cards for me right now. Hopefully early next year, I will get a chance to go back and soak it all in.

Until then, I am experiencing my favourite places in Paris through photographs.

Eiffel
La Tour Eiffel – the love of my life

Every trip to Paris, there are few tried and true things that I always do:

  • Salade landaise from Chez Papa
  • Ice cream from Amorino
  • Desserts from anywhere and everywhere
Salade landaise from Chez Papa
Ice cream from Amorino
Dessert

 

The Seine
The sunsets over the Seine

Some places, I return to over and over again. Some because of the way I feel in them, others to watch the changing light reflect off a particular window, sculpture or brick.

Pont des Arts
Musée Rodin
Opéra Garnier
View from Place de la Concorde

 

And the epitome of all things Parisian (at least for me): Les Bouquinistes along the Seine and Paris street signs.

BouquinisteStreet signs

PARIS, JE T’AIME.

Monet’s Giverny

On By ChérineIn France, Giverny, Travel2 Comments

The small town of Giverny is about an hour from Paris and one of my favourite places to visit in spring. I can understand why Claude Monet chose it as his home for 43 years.

The pond at Giverny
The pond at Giverny

Wandering the gardens, I am always impressed by their beauty and the army of gardeners it must take to maintain such an expansive and rich variety of flora.

Giverny RoseGiverny YellowOrange on blue

The world famous water lily
The world famous water lily

And my all-time favourite: PEONIES.

Peonie

Paris, mon amour

On By ChérineIn France, Paris, TravelLeave a comment

What is it about Paris that draws me back over and over? Even today, I am feeling the pull towards the city of lights and pondering an escape for a few days.

Convergent Journey‘s post answered that question for me in part. Paris tugs at the hear strings: I am at home in the city and as the French say  “je suis bien dans ma peau” (content in my own skin).

Walking down the same streets, and even some new ones, the familiarity of the architecture and surroundings is soothing. But there is always a new element: maybe the sunlight  hits the building from a different angle and the image ingrained in my memory changes. This is why I love Paris.

My favourite places – Part 1

On By ChérineIn France, Paris, Travel1 Comment

Paris…

Cole Porter wrote:

I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles

I love Paris every moment
Every moment of the year
I love Paris
Why, oh, why do I love Paris?

Every time I visit Paris, Cole Porter’s song plays in my mind as if it was the soundtrack to my Parisian adventure. And every time, I fall in love with Paris a little more. So I ask why does Paris have such an effect on me?
  • La Tour Eiffel – I am always in awe of Gustave Eiffel’s contribution to the 1889 World Fair. A trip to Paris is not complete without a pilgrimage to the Eiffel Tower and a thousand and one photographs to immortalize its beauty.

Eiffel Detail - Watermark copy

  • The architecture – Whether you are looking at La Grande Arche de la Défense or buildings in the Haussmanian style, there is always a new detail, a new angle to look at and admire.

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  • The sprawling parks in a large city – Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin des Tuileries, Bois de Vincennes and many more.

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  • And most importantly – the way I feel in Paris. It is difficult to find the words to explain the feeling other than to say “I am at home in Paris”.